by Lindsay H. Jones, USA TODAY Sports

by Lindsay H. Jones, USA TODAY Sports

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - It wasn't by accident that Peyton Manning threw passes to five different Denver Broncos teammates in the opening drive of the Broncos' game Monday against Oakland.

Manning said Wednesday that spreading out his passes to his receivers, tight ends and running backs isn't just about trying to fool an opposing defense. It's also a motivational trick to keep each of his teammates engaged.

"I know it helps all the offensive players. When everybody on the offense on any given play thinks the ball might be coming to them, you just run better routes," Manning said. "On certain plays, if you're only throwing to the same guy every single time, there's four guys that might not be running full speed routes."

It must be working. Against Oakland, eight different Broncos caught a pass from Manning, and 10 total players have caught at least one of Manning's passes through three weeks. The top three receivers, Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker and Eric Decker are nearly even in receptions - Thomas has a one-catch lead over Welker and Decker with 20 - and each has at least 190 receiving yards. Tight end Julius Thomas has added 14 catches, 194 receiving yards and four touchdowns.

So much for concerns that there might not be enough passes to keep all these Broncos happy.

"Our distribution has been pretty good so far, in terms of spreading the ball around, so that's why we have guys getting open, because all five guys think they might get the ball on this play," Manning said. "That can put pressure on a defense, I would think."

Decker was the last of Manning's top targets to get hot, and that came Monday when he had eight catches, 133 yards and his first touchdown of the season.

"Any given play, it doesn't matter which read you may be on that play, [Manning] might come to you," Decker said. "You run every route to win, and you expect the ball in the play."